Diffusion barrier layer in top electrode to increase break down voltage

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor including a diffusion barrier layer. A bottom electrode overlies a substrate. A capacitor dielectric layer overlies the bottom electrode. A top electrode overlies the capacitor dielectric layer. The top electrode includes a first top electrode layer, a second top electrode layer, and a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first and second top electrode layers.

BACKGROUND

Modern day integrated chips comprise millions or billions of transistor devices, which are configured to enable logical functionality for an integrated chip (e.g., form a processor configured to perform logic functions). Often integrated chips may also comprise passive devices, such as capacitors, resistors, inductors, varactors, etc. Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors are a common type of passive device that is often integrated into the back-end-of-the-line metal interconnect layers of integrated chips. For example, MIM capacitors may be used as decoupling capacitors configured to mitigate power supply or switching noise (e.g., switching of input/output (I/O) and core circuits) caused by changes in current flowing through various parasitic inductances associated with an integrated chip and a package in which the integrated chip is located.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate cross-sectional views of some embodiments of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor having a diffusion barrier layer.

FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of some embodiments of a metal-insulator-metal-insulator-metal (MIMIM) capacitor having multiple diffusion barrier layers.

FIGS. 2B-2D illustrate cross-sectional views of alternative embodiments of a section of the MIMIM capacitor of FIG. 2A as indicated by the dashed boxes in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an integrated circuit (IC) including a MIM capacitor disposed in an interconnect structure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a circuit diagram of some embodiments of the IC of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of some alternative embodiments of the IC of FIG. 3 , in which a bonding structure overlies the interconnect structure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of some alternative embodiments of a section of the IC of FIG. 5 as indicated by the dashed box in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an IC including a MIMIM capacitor overlying an interconnect structure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a circuit diagram of some embodiments of the IC of FIG. 7 .

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of some alternative embodiments of the IC of FIG. 7 , in which a bonding structure overlies the MIMIM capacitor.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of some alternative embodiments of a section of the IC of FIG. 9 as indicated by the dashed box in FIG. 9 .

FIGS. 11-16 illustrate a series of cross-sectional views of some embodiments of a method for forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor having a diffusion barrier layer.

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of some embodiments of the method of FIGS. 11-16 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of this disclosure. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

MIM (metal-insulator-metal) capacitors may be implemented into the back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) metal interconnect layers of integrated chips. MIM capacitors typically have a top electrode and a bottom electrode separated by a capacitor dielectric layer. During formation of a MIM capacitor, a capacitor dielectric layer is formed over a bottom electrode. A top electrode film is deposited over the capacitor dielectric layer. A masking layer is formed over the top electrode film, and the top electrode film is patterned according to the masking layer, thereby forming a top electrode. A masking layer removal process is performed to remove the masking layer and a cleaning process is performed to remove by-products from the top electrode film deposition and/or the patterning process. The removal and/or cleaning processes utilize one or more chemicals from a diffusive species (e.g., oxygen (O₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydrofluoric acid (HF), dihydrofolic acid (DHF), etc.).

A challenge with the above MIM capacitor pertains to a structure of the top electrode. The top electrode film may be formed by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process with a large thickness (e.g., 400 Angstroms), such that the top electrode has large columnar grains. The large thickness increases a structural integrity of the MIM capacitor but does so at the expense of large grain sizes. Due to the columnar grains, the diffusive species from the removal and/or cleaning processes diffuses through the top electrode (e.g., along the grain boundaries between adjacent columnar grains) to the capacitor dielectric layer. The diffusive species reacts or otherwise interacts with the capacitor dielectric layer, thereby forming voids in the capacitor dielectric layer. These voids may result in electrical breakdown of the capacitor dielectric layer, and may hence result in the top electrode electrically shorting to the bottom electrode at high operating voltages (e.g., within a range of 2.3 to 3.5 volts (V)). Such electrical shorting, in turn, leads to failure of the MIM capacitor.

Various embodiments of the present application are directed to a top electrode having a diffusion barrier layer that blocks and/or prevents the diffusion of the diffusive species. In some embodiments, a first top electrode layer is formed over the capacitor dielectric layer by a PVD process, such that the first top electrode layer comprises a first material (e.g., titanium nitride (TiN)) that has columnar grains and a first thickness (e.g., 200 Angstroms). A diffusion barrier layer is formed over the first top electrode layer by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, and an annealing process with a treatment species (e.g., nitrogen (N₂), hydrogen (H₂), a combination of the foregoing, etc.) is performed on the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer comprises the first material with a second thickness (e.g., 10 to 15 Angstroms). By virtue of performing the annealing process with the treatment species, the diffusion barrier layer is nitrogen rich (e.g., N-rich) and has a higher ratio of nitrogen atoms to titanium atoms than the first top electrode layer. This results in the diffusion barrier layer being at least partially crystalline with grain sizes smaller than the columnar grains of the first top electrode layer. A second top electrode layer is formed over the diffusion barrier layer by a PVD process, such that the second top electrode layer comprises the first material with columnar grains and has about the first thickness (e.g., 200 Angstroms). The aforementioned layers are patterned according to a masking layer, thereby defining the top electrode. The partially crystalline structure and small grain sizes of the diffusion barrier layer blocks diffusion of the diffusive species to the capacitor dielectric layer during subsequent removal and/or cleaning processes. Thus, the diffusion barrier layer prevents the formation of voids in the capacitor dielectric layer, thereby preventing the breakdown in the MIM capacitor at high operating volts. This, in part, increases an operating voltage, an endurance, and a reliability of the MIM capacitor.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a cross-sectional view of some embodiments of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor 100 a having a diffusion barrier layer 112 is provided.

The MIM capacitor 100 a includes a top electrode 108, a bottom electrode 104, and a capacitor dielectric layer 106 disposed between the top and bottom electrodes 108,104. The bottom electrode 104 overlies a substrate 102. The top electrode 108 overlies the bottom electrode 104, and has a first width W₁ that is smaller than a second width W₂ of the bottom electrode 104. The top electrode 108 includes a first top electrode layer 110 a, a second top electrode layer 110 b, and a diffusion barrier layer 112 disposed between the first and second top electrode layers 110 a-b.

In some embodiments, the top electrode 108 and the bottom electrode 104 may be or comprise a metal nitride, such as, for example, titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, tungsten nitride, or the like. The first and second top electrode layers 110 a-b comprise the metal nitride with a first ratio of nitrogen atoms to metal atoms (e.g., titanium atoms), such that the aforementioned layers have grains (e.g., columnar grains) with a first grain size. The diffusion barrier layer 112 comprises a metal nitride with a second ratio of nitrogen atoms to metal atoms (e.g., titanium atoms), such that the diffusion barrier layer has diffusion barrier grains (e.g., non-columnar grains) with a second grain size smaller than the first grain size. In some embodiments, the first ratio of nitrogen atoms to metal atoms is 1:1 and the second ratio of nitrogen atoms to metal atoms is 1.0x:1 (where x is within a range of about 2-5). For example, for every 100 metal atoms the first and/or second top electrode layers 110 a-b may comprise 100 nitrogen atoms, whereas for every 100 metal atoms the diffusion barrier layer 112 may comprise 102 to 105 nitrogen atoms. Therefore, the diffusion barrier layer 112 is nitrogen rich (N-rich) (i.e., a greater number of nitrogen atoms than metal atoms). By virtue of the nitrogen atoms having a smaller atomic radius than the metal atoms, a distance between atoms in the diffusion barrier layer 112 is less than a distance between atoms in the first and/or second top electrode layers 110 a-b. Thus, the atoms in the diffusion barrier layer 112 are more densely packed together than the atoms in the first and/or second top electrode layers 110 a-b, leading to the diffusion barrier layer 112 having smaller grain sizes. In some embodiments, the atoms in the diffusion barrier layer 112 are so densely packed together that a diffusive species (e.g., oxygen (O₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydrofluoric acid (HF), dihydrofolic acid (DHF), etc.) is unable to travel between adjacent atoms in the diffusion barrier layer 112. Therefore, the diffusion barrier layer 112 has more densely packed atoms, non-columnar grains, and/or an at least partially crystalline structure that contributes to an ability to block and/or mitigate diffusion of the diffusive species. This prevents the diffusive species from adversely affecting a structural integrity of the capacitor dielectric layer 106, thereby mitigating degradation of the MIM capacitor 100 a. In some embodiments, the bottom electrode 104 comprises a metal nitride with the first ratio of nitrogen atoms to metal atoms, wherein the bottom electrode 104 has columnar grains.

For example, during a formation of the MIM capacitor 100 a, the first top electrode layer 110 a is formed over the capacitor dielectric layer 106 by a first deposition process (e.g., a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process). By virtue of the first deposition, the first top electrode layer 110 a has first grain sizes (e.g., columnar grains). The diffusion barrier layer 112 is formed over the first top electrode layer 110 a by a second deposition process (e.g., an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process) with a second thickness (e.g., about 10-15 Angstroms). After performing the second deposition process, an annealing process with a treatment species (e.g., nitrogen (N₂), hydrogen (H₂), a combination of the foregoing, etc.) is performed on the diffusion barrier layer 112, such that the diffusion barrier layer is rich in the treatment species (e.g., N-rich). In some embodiments, the annealing process is performed with a first treatment species (e.g., nitrogen (N₂)) and a second treatment species (e.g., hydrogen (H₂)), where the second treatment species facilitates implanting the first treatment species into the diffusion barrier layer. In such embodiments, the second treatment species may facilitate dissociating a molecule of the first treatment species into first treatment species atoms, such that the first treatment species atoms may be more easily implanted into the diffusion barrier layer 112. This ensures the diffusion barrier layer 112 has second grain sizes (e.g., equiaxed gains) smaller than the first grain sizes. Further, the second top electrode layer 110 b is formed over the diffusion barrier layer 112 by the first deposition process, such that the second top electrode layer 110 b has the first grain sizes. After forming the aforementioned layers, a patterning process is performed, thereby defining the top electrode 108 with the first width W₁. Subsequently, a removal process may be performed to remove a mask (e.g., a photoresist mask) and/or a cleaning process may be performed to remove by-products from the aforementioned deposition processes and/or the patterning process.

The removal and/or cleaning processes utilize one or more chemicals from the diffusive species (e.g., oxygen (O₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydrofluoric acid (HF), etc.). In some embodiments, if the diffusive species reaches the capacitor dielectric layer 106 it may react or otherwise interact with the capacitor dielectric layer 106, thereby forming voids in the capacitor dielectric layer 106. During the removal and/or cleaning processes, the diffusive species may travel along grain boundaries of the grains in the second top electrode layer 110 b to the diffusion barrier layer 112. However, the second grain sizes of the diffusion barrier layer 112 mitigate and/or block the diffusive species from reaching the capacitor dielectric layer 106. Thus, the second grain sizes of the diffusion barrier layer 112 prevent the formation of voids in the capacitor dielectric layer 106. By preventing the formation of voids in the capacitor dielectric layer 106, breakdown of the capacitor dielectric layer 106 may not occur under high operating voltages (e.g., within a range of 2.3 to 3.5 V). Therefore, the diffusion barrier layer 112 increases an operating voltage (e.g., up to about 4.8 V), an endurance, and a reliability of the MIM capacitor 100 a.

Referring to FIG. 1B, a cross-sectional view of a MIM capacitor 100 b according to some alternative embodiments of the MIM capacitor 100 a of FIG. 1A is provided. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional view of the MIM capacitor 100 b in FIG. 1B is an enlarged view, such that the grain sizes of the different layers are visible.

The capacitor dielectric layer 106 has a thickness t_(cr) defined in a center region of the capacitor dielectric layer 106. The top electrode 108 overlies the center region of the capacitor dielectric layer 106, such that the capacitor dielectric layer 106 has the thickness t_(cr) between a top surface of the bottom electrode 104 and a bottom surface of the first top electrode layer 110 a. The capacitor dielectric layer 106 has a thickness t_(pr) defined in a peripheral region of the capacitor dielectric layer 106, such that the peripheral region surrounds the center region and is laterally offset from the top electrode 108. In some embodiments, the thickness t_(pr) is less than the thickness t_(cr). Thus, the capacitor dielectric layer 106 has two discrete thicknesses. In some embodiments, the capacitor dielectric layer 106 may, for example, be or comprise a high κ dielectric material, such as aluminum oxide (Al_(x)O_(y)), zirconium oxide (ZrO_(x)), or the like. As used herein, a high κ dielectric material is a dielectric material with a dielectric constant greater than 3.9. In yet further embodiments, the capacitor dielectric layer 106 comprises a plurality of dielectric materials and/or a plurality of dielectric layers. For example, the capacitor dielectric layer 106 may comprise a first zirconium oxide layer (e.g., ZrO₂), a second zirconium oxide layer (e.g., ZrO₂), and an aluminum oxide layer (e.g., Al₂O₃) disposed between the first and second zirconium oxide layers (not shown).

The first top electrode layer 110 a comprises a plurality of grains 114. For ease of illustration, only some of the grains 114 are labeled 114. The grains 114 define grain boundaries that may extend from an upper surface of the capacitor dielectric layer 106 to a lower surface of the diffusion barrier layer 112. In some embodiments, the grains 114 are columnar grains, and a first grain may have a different area and/or width than a second grain. For example, a first grain 114 a may have a greater width and/or area than a second grain 114 b. In some embodiments, the first top electrode layer 110 a may, for example, be or comprise a first material, such as titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, tungsten nitride, or the like and/or may have a maximum thickness t_(a) of about 100 Angstroms, 200 Angstroms, or within a range of about 100 to 200 Angstroms.

The second top electrode layer 110 b comprises a plurality of grains 116. For ease of illustration, only some of the grains 116 are labeled 116. The grains 116 define grain boundaries that may extend from an upper surface of the diffusion barrier layer 112 to a point above the upper surface of the diffusion barrier layer 112. In some embodiments, the grains 116 are columnar grains, and a first grain may have a different area and/or width than a second grain. For example, a first grain 116 a may have a greater width and/or area than a second grain 116 b. In some embodiments, a grain boundary of the first grain 116 a of the second top electrode layer 110 b is laterally offset from a grain boundary of the first grain 114 a of the first top electrode layer 110 a by a distance d₁. In some embodiments, the distance d₁ is non-zero. Thus, the grains 116 of the second top electrode layer 110 b and the grains 114 of the first top electrode layer 110 a may both be columnar grains with different layouts and/or different grain boundary locations. In such embodiments, the distance d₁ being non-zero increases an ability for the top electrode 108 to prevent diffusion of the diffusive species to the capacitor dielectric layer 106. The distance d₁ may act as another barrier in place of the diffusive species. For example, in some embodiments, the diffusive species may vertically diffuse through the first top electrode layer 110 a and the diffusion barrier layer 112. In such embodiments, the shifted grain boundaries (e.g., due to the distance d₁) between the first and second top electrode layers 110 a-b may require the diffusive species to laterally diffuse before it could vertically diffuse through the second top electrode layer 110 b. Thus, the shifted grain boundaries between the first and second electrode layers 110 a-b increase an ability to mitigate and/or block diffusion of the diffusive species.

In some embodiments the second top electrode layer 110 b comprises the first material, such that the first and second top electrode layers 110 a-b comprise a same material. In some embodiments, the second top electrode layer 110 b may, for example, be or comprise titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, tungsten nitride, or the like and/or may have a maximum thickness t_(b) of about 100 Angstroms, 200 Angstroms, or within a range of about 100 to 200 Angstroms. In some embodiments, the maximum thickness t_(a) of the first top electrode layer 110 a is equal to the maximum thickness t_(b) of the second top electrode layer 110 b.

The diffusion barrier layer 112 is between the first and second top electrode layers 110 a-b and has diffusion barrier grains 118. Box A illustrates an enlarged view of the diffusion barrier layer 112, such that the diffusion barrier grains 118 may be more easily illustrated. In some embodiments, an entirety of the diffusion barrier layer 112 comprises the diffusion barrier grains 118. For ease of illustration, only some of the diffusion barrier grains 118 are labeled 118. In some embodiments, the diffusion barrier grains 118 are smaller than the grains 114 of the first top electrode layer 110 a and/or the grains 116 of the second top electrode layer 110 b. The diffusion barrier grains 118 may, for example, be equiaxed grains and/or non-columnar grains. In further embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer 112 may have a partially crystalline structure. In the aforementioned embodiments, the diffusion barrier grains 118 have a grain size smaller than the grains 114 of the first top electrode layer 110 a and/or the grains 116 of the second top electrode layer 110 b.

The smaller grain sizes of the diffusion barrier grains 118 (in relation to the grains 116) allow the diffusion barrier grains 118 to be more densely packed together, hence the diffusion barrier grains 118 have smaller grain boundaries than the grains 116. In some embodiments, the grain sizes are small enough to block and/or mitigate diffusion of the diffusive species. Therefore, the diffusion barrier layer 112 is configured to block and/or mitigate diffusion of a diffusive species to the capacitor dielectric layer 106. The diffusive species may, for example, be or comprise oxygen (O₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydrofluoric acid (HF), dihydrofolic acid (DHF), a combination of the aforementioned, or the like. In some embodiments, the diffusive species may travel along the grain boundaries of the grains 116 of the second top electrode layer 110 b to the diffusion barrier layer 112. However, the diffusive species may be unable to enter the diffusion barrier layer 112 and/or travel along grain boundaries of the diffusion barrier grains 118. Thus, the diffusion barrier layer 112 blocks the diffusive species from reaching the capacitor dielectric layer 106. In further embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer 112 comprises titanium nitride with a higher concentration of nitrogen than titanium.

The diffusion barrier layer 112 has a thickness t_(db) that is smaller than the maximum thickness t_(a) of the first top electrode layer 110 a and/or the maximum thickness t_(b) of the second top electrode layer 110 b. For example, the thickness t_(bd) is within a range of about 10 to 15 Angstroms. In some embodiments, if the thickness t_(bd) is less than 10 Angstroms, then the diffusion barrier layer 112 may be unable to block diffusion of the diffusive species, thereby resulting in breakdown of the capacitor dielectric layer 106 under high operating voltages (e.g., within a range of 2.3 to 3.5 V). In yet another embodiment, if the thickness t_(bd) is greater than 15 Angstroms, then time and costs associated with forming the diffusion barrier layer 112 may be increased. The first top electrode layer 110 a, the second top electrode layer 110 b, and the diffusion barrier layer 112 may comprise a same material (e.g., TiN). In some embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer 112 may, for example, be or comprise titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, tungsten nitride, tungsten, nickel, titanium, tantalum, zirconium, nickel chromium, palladium, or the like. In some embodiments, a maximum thickness of the diffusion barrier layer 112 is about 20, 15, 13, or within a range of 10-20 times less than a maximum thickness t_(a) of the first top electrode layer 110 a and/or a maximum thickness t_(b) of the second top electrode layer 110 b.

In some embodiments, the diffusion barrier grains 118 are small grains with approximately equal dimensions. In some embodiments, a diffusion barrier grain 118 has approximately equal dimensions if all dimensions of the diffusion barrier grains 118 (e.g., height H, width W, and depth D) are within about 30, 20, or 10 percent of the average of the dimensions (e.g., (H+W+D)/3). In some embodiments, one, some, or all of the dimensions of the diffusion barrier grains 118 is/are between about 1-4.5 nanometers, about 2.5-4.5 nanometers, or about 0.5-2.5 nanometers. For example, a maximum dimension of the diffusion barrier grains 118 may be between one of these ranges. Further, in some embodiments, one (e.g., a maximum dimension), some, or all of the dimensions of the diffusion barrier grains 118 is/are less than about 4 or 4.5 nanometers. For example, a maximum dimension of the diffusion barrier grains 118 may be less than one or more of these thresholds.

Referring to FIG. 1C, a cross-sectional view of a MIM capacitor 100 c according to some alternative embodiments of the MIM capacitor 100 b of FIG. 1B is provided. The diffusion barrier layer 112 has a rough bottom surface that conforms to a rough upper surface of the first top electrode layer 110 a. In some embodiments, the upper surface of the first top electrode layer 110 a comprises a plurality of protrusions and the bottom surface of the diffusion barrier layer 112 comprises a plurality of recesses that adjoin the protrusions of the first top electrode layer 110 a. Further, a sidewall of the second top electrode layer 110 b is laterally offset from a sidewall of the diffusion barrier layer 112 by a distance d₂. In some embodiments, the distance d₂ is non-zero.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a cross-sectional view of some embodiments of a metal-insulator-metal-insulator-metal (MIMIM) capacitor 200 a including a top electrode 108 with a diffusion barrier layer 112 and a middle electrode 202 comprising a middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 is provided.

A bottom electrode 104 overlies a substrate 102. A capacitor dielectric layer 106 overlies the substrate 102 and the bottom electrode 104. The capacitor dielectric layer 106 continuously extends over a sidewall and an upper surface of the bottom electrode 104. A middle electrode 202 extends over an upper surface of the capacitor dielectric layer 106 and overlies a portion of the bottom electrode 104. The middle electrode 202 is separated from the bottom electrode 104 by the capacitor dielectric layer 106.

The middle electrode 202 comprises a first middle electrode layer 204 a, a second middle electrode layer 204 b, and a middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 disposed between the first and second middle electrode layers 204 a-b. In some embodiments, the middle electrode 202 is configured as the top electrode 108 of FIGS. 1A-1C, such that the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 is configured to block and/or mitigate diffusion of a diffusive species (e.g., oxygen (O₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydrofluoric acid (HF), etc.) to the capacitor dielectric layer 106. Further, the first and second middle electrode layers 204 a-b may each have columnar grains and the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 has grains smaller than the columnar grains. In further embodiments, the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 comprises titanium nitride with a high concentration of nitrogen, such that the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 is at least partially crystalline. In the aforementioned embodiment, the at least partially crystalline structure of the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 blocks and/or mitigates diffusion of the diffusive species. In yet further embodiments, the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 comprises equiaxed grains.

An upper capacitor dielectric layer 208 overlies an upper surface of the middle electrode 202. In some embodiments, the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208 comprises a same material as the capacitor dielectric layer 106. In some embodiments, the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208 may, for example, be or comprise a high κ dielectric material, such as aluminum oxide (Al_(x)O_(y)), zirconium oxide (ZrO_(x)), or the like. In yet further embodiments, the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208 comprises a plurality of dielectric materials and/or a plurality of dielectric layers. For example, the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208 may comprise a first zirconium oxide layer (e.g., ZrO₂), a second zirconium oxide layer (e.g., ZrO₂), and an aluminum oxide layer (e.g., Al₂O₃) disposed between the first and second zirconium oxide layers (not shown).

The top electrode 108 overlies the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208 and the capacitor dielectric layer 106. The top electrode 108 is configured as the top electrode 108 of FIGS. 1A-1C, such that the diffusion barrier layer 112 is disposed between the first and second top electrode layers 110 a-b. The diffusion barrier layer 112 is configured to block and/or mitigate diffusion of the diffusive species to the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208 and/or the capacitor dielectric layer 106. In some embodiments, the top electrode 108 is separated from the middle electrode 202 by the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208, and the top electrode 108 is separated from the middle electrode by the capacitor dielectric layer 106.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a cross-sectional view 200 b of a portion of the MIMIM capacitor 200 a of FIG. 2A as indicated by the dashed box in FIG. 2A is provided.

The first middle electrode layer 204 a comprises a plurality of grains 204 ag that may, for example, be columnar grains that create grain boundaries extending from the capacitor dielectric layer 106 to the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206. The second middle electrode layer 204 b comprises a plurality of grains 204 bg that may, for example, be columnar grains that create grain boundaries extending from the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 to the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208. The middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 may, for example, comprises diffusion barrier grains (not shown) that are smaller than the grains 204 ag and/or the grains 204 bg. In some embodiments, the diffusion barrier grains of the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206 may be configured as the diffusion barrier grains 118 of FIG. 1B. The top electrode 108 overlies the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208 and is configured as the top electrode 108 of FIGS. 1A-C.

Referring to FIG. 2C, a cross-sectional view 200 c of an alternative embodiment of FIG. 2B is provided, in which the first middle electrode layer 204 a comprises a plurality of protrusions that adjoin a plurality of recesses of the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer 206. The second middle electrode layer 204 b comprises a plurality of protrusions that adjoin a plurality of recesses of the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208. Further, the first top electrode layer 110 a comprises a plurality of protrusions that adjoin a plurality of recesses of the diffusion barrier layer 112.

Referring to FIG. 2D, a cross-sectional view 200 d of a portion of the MIMIM capacitor 200 a of FIG. 2A as indicated by the dashed box in FIG. 2A is provided, in which the capacitor dielectric layer 106 comprises a lower dielectric layer 210, a middle dielectric layer 212, and an upper dielectric layer 214. The middle dielectric layer 212 is disposed between the upper and lower dielectric layers 214, 210. In some embodiments, the upper and lower dielectric layers 214, 210 may respectively comprise zirconium oxide and the middle dielectric layer 212 may comprise aluminum oxide. In further embodiments, the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208 is configured as the capacitor dielectric layer 106 in FIG. 2D (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view of some embodiments of an integrated circuit (IC) 300 including a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor 100 a is provided. The MIM capacitor 100 a is disposed in an interconnect structure 303 configured for a one-transistor one-capacitor (1T1C) setup.

The IC 300 includes the interconnect structure 303 overlying a substrate 102. The substrate 102 may, for example, be or comprise a bulk substrate (e.g., a bulk silicon substrate) or a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. An access metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) 308 is disposed on the substrate 102. The access MOSFET 308 includes a pair of source/drain regions 302 disposed in the substrate 102 and laterally spaced apart. A gate dielectric 304 overlies the substrate 102 between the individual source/drain regions 302, and a gate electrode 306 overlies the gate dielectric 304. In some embodiments, the gate electrode 306 may, for example, be or comprise polysilicon, or another suitable conductive material. The substrate 102 comprises a first doping type (e.g., p-type) and the source/drain regions 302 comprise a second doping type (e.g., n-type) opposite the first doping type. In some embodiments, the source/drain regions 302 comprise a doping concentration greater than a doping concentration of the substrate 102. A well region 305 is disposed between the source/drain regions 302 and comprises the first doping type with a higher doping concentration than the substrate 102.

The interconnect structure 303 comprises a plurality of inter-level dielectric (ILD) layers 314 overlying the substrate 102 and the access MOSFET 308. The ILD layers 314 may comprise one or more ILD materials. In some embodiments, the one or more ILD materials may, for example be a low κ dielectric material, an oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide), a combination of the aforementioned, or another suitable dielectric material. As used herein, a low κ dielectric material is a dielectric material with a dielectric constant less than 3.9. A plurality of conductive wires 312 and conductive vias 310 are stacked within the ILD layers 314 and are configured to provide electrical connections between various devices (e.g., the access MOSFET 308 and/or the MIM capacitor 100 a) disposed throughout the IC 300. In some embodiments, the conductive wires 312 and/or the conductive vias 310 may, for example, be or comprise copper, aluminum, or some other conductive material.

The MIM capacitor 100 a is disposed in an upper ILD layer 314 u. The MIM capacitor 100 a includes a top electrode 108, a bottom electrode 104, and a capacitor dielectric layer 106 disposed between the top and bottom electrodes 108, 104. A plurality of upper vias 316 a-c electrically couple the MIM capacitor 100 a to the underlying conductive wires 312. The plurality of upper vias 316 a-c are electrically coupled to upper wires 318 a-c. In some embodiments, a first upper wire 318 a is electrically coupled to a second upper wire 318 b by way of a connector 320 (which is schematically illustrated for each of illustration). In some embodiments, the connector 320 comprises wires and/or vias overlying the MIM capacitor 100 a. A bottom electrode via 316 b extends from the second upper wire 318 b to a bottom electrode 104 of the MIM capacitor 100 a and a top electrode via 316 c extends from a third upper wire 318 c to the top electrode 108 of the MIM capacitor 100 a. In some embodiments, the MIM capacitor 100 a is configured as the MIM capacitor 100 a of FIGS. 1A-C.

In some embodiments, the gate electrode 306 is electrically coupled to a word line (WL), such that an appropriate WL voltage can be applied to the gate electrode 306 to electrically couple the MIM capacitor 100 a to a bit line (BL) and source line (SL). The SL is electrically coupled to a source/drain region 302 and the BL is electrically coupled to another source/drain region 302 by way of the interconnect structure 303 and the MIM capacitor 100 a. Thus, in some embodiments, an output of the BL and/or the MIM capacitor 100 a may be accessed at the SL upon application of the appropriate WL voltage. In further embodiments, a voltage may be applied at a transistor body node 301 that is electrically coupled to the well region 305 (i.e., a body of the access MOSFET 308) disposed under the gate electrode 306. The voltage applied at the transistor body node 301 may be configured to assist in controlling a conductive channel formed in the well region 305.

Referring to FIG. 4 , a circuit diagram 400 of some embodiments of the IC 300 of FIG. 3 is provided.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the SL is electrically coupled to a first source/drain region of the access MOSFET 308. A WL is electrically coupled to a gate electrode of the access MOSFET 308, and a second source/drain region of the access MOSFET 308 is electrically coupled to the MIM capacitor 100 a. The bottom electrode 104 is configured as a first plate 100 p 1 of the MIM capacitor 100 a, and the top electrode 108 is configured as a second plate 100 p 2 of the MIM capacitor 100 a, such that the first plate 100 p 1 is parallel to the second plate 100 p 2. In some embodiments, the capacitor dielectric layer (106 of FIG. 3 ) is disposed between the first and second plates 100 p 1, 100 p 2. In some embodiments, the first plate 100 p 1 is electrically coupled to the second source/drain region of the access MOSFET 308, and the second plate 100 p 2 is electrically coupled to a BL.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a cross-sectional view of an IC 500 according to some alternative embodiments of the IC 300 of FIG. 3 is provided, in which a bonding structure 505 overlies the interconnect structure 303.

The access MOSFET 308 includes source/drain regions 302, a gate electrode 306, and a gate dielectric 304. The source/drain regions 302 are disposed between an isolation structure 502 that extends from an upper surface of the substrate 102 to a point below the upper surface of the substrate 102. In some embodiments, the isolation structure 502 is configured as a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure and comprises one or more dielectric materials (e.g., silicon dioxide). The access MOSFET 308 further includes a sidewall spacer structure 504 surrounding the gate electrode 306 and the gate dielectric 304. At least a portion of the sidewall spacer structure 504 overlies the source/drain regions 302.

The bonding structure 505 overlies the interconnect structure 303 and the MIM capacitor 100 a. The bonding structure 505 includes a first passivation layer 510, a second passivation layer 512, a top dielectric structure 514, a bump structure 515, a redistribution layer 508, and a redistribution via 506. The redistribution layer 508 is disposed within the second passivation layer 512. The redistribution via 506 is disposed within the first passivation layer 510 and extends from the redistribution layer 508 to a first upper wire 318 a. Thus, the redistribution layer 508 is electrically coupled to the MIM capacitor 100 a. The bump structure 515 extends through the top dielectric structure 514 and contacts the redistribution layer 508. The bump structure 515 includes a bond pad 516, a bond bump 518, and a solder ball 520. The bump structure 515 is electrically coupled to the interconnect structure 303 by way of the redistribution layer 508. In some embodiments, the bump structure 515 is configured to electrically couple the IC 500 to another IC (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional view 600 of some alternative embodiments of a portion of the IC 500 of FIG. 5 , as indicated by the dashed box in FIG. 5 is provided.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the MIM capacitor 100 a is disposed within an ILD layer 314 and overlies conductive wires 312. The conductive wires 312 each comprise a conductive body 312 a surrounded by a conductive liner 312 b. A first upper wire 318 a overlies the top electrode 108 and comprises one or more protrusions that directly contact the top electrode 108. A second upper wire 318 b overlies the bottom electrode 104, and comprises a protrusion that extends through the capacitor dielectric layer 106 and directly contacts the bottom electrode 104. In some embodiments, the first and second upper wires 318 a-b respectively comprise the conductive body 312 a surrounded by the conductive liner 312 b. In some embodiments, the conductive body 312 a may, for example, be or comprise aluminum, copper, an alloy of the aforementioned, or the like. In further embodiments, the conductive liner 312 b may, for example, be or comprise tungsten, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 7 , a cross-sectional view of an integrated circuit (IC) 700 corresponding to some alternative embodiments of the IC 300 of FIG. 3 is provided. The IC 700 includes a metal-insulator-metal-insulator-metal (MIMIM) capacitor 200 a disposed in a first passivation layer 510 and configured for a one-transistor two-capacitor (1T2C) setup.

The access MOSFET 308 is configured and/or illustrated as the access MOSFET 308 of FIG. 3 . A bonding structure 505 overlies the interconnect structure 303 and the access MOSFET 308. The bonding structure 505 includes the first passivation layer 510, a second passivation layer 512, a redistribution layer 508, and first and second redistribution vias 506 a-b. The MIMIM capacitor 200 a is disposed within the first passivation layer 510. The MIMIM capacitor 200 a includes a bottom electrode 104, a capacitor dielectric layer 106, an upper capacitor dielectric layer 208, a top electrode 108, and a middle electrode 202 disposed between the top and bottom electrodes 108, 104.

The first redistribution via 506 a extends from the redistribution layer 508 to a topmost layer of the conductive wires 312 in the interconnect structure 303. The first redistribution via 506 a extends through the top electrode 108, the capacitor dielectric layer 106, and the bottom electrode 104, such that the top electrode 108 is electrically coupled to the bottom electrode 104. The second redistribution via 506 b extends from the redistribution layer 508 to the topmost layer of the conductive wires 312 and is electrically coupled to a source/drain region 302 of the access MOSFET 308. The second redistribution via 506 b extends through the upper capacitor dielectric layer 208, the middle electrode 202, and the capacitor dielectric layer 106. Thus, the middle electrode 202 is electrically coupled to the source/drain region 302 of the access MOSFET 308. In some embodiments, the redistribution layer 508 is electrically coupled to the BL.

Referring to FIG. 8 , a circuit diagram 800 of some embodiments of the IC 700 of FIG. 7 is provided.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the SL is electrically coupled to a first source/drain region of the access MOSFET 308. The WL is electrically coupled to a gate electrode of the access MOSFET 308, and a second source/drain region of the access MOSFET 308 is electrically coupled to the MIMIM capacitor 200 a. The second source/drain region of the access MOSFET 308 is electrically coupled to the BL by way of the MIMIM capacitor 200 a.

In some embodiments, the MIMIM capacitor 200 a includes a first capacitor 802 electrically coupled to a second capacitor 804 in parallel with one another. The first capacitor 802 includes a first plate 802 p 1 and a second plate 802 p 2, such that the first plate 802 p 1 is parallel to the second plate 802 p 2. The second capacitor 804 includes a first plate 804 p 1 and a second plate 804 p 2, such that the first plate 804 p 1 is parallel to the second plate 804 p 2. In some embodiments, the middle electrode 202 is configured as the first plate 802 p 1 of the first capacitor 802 and the first plate 804 p 1 of the second capacitor 804. In further embodiments, the bottom electrode 104 is configured as the second plate 802 p 2 of the first capacitor 802, and the top electrode 108 is configured as the second plate 804 p 2 of the second capacitor 804. The second plate 802 p 2 of the first capacitor 802 and the second plate 804 p 2 of the second capacitor 804 are electrically coupled to the BL.

Referring to FIG. 9 , a cross-sectional view of an IC 900 according to some alternative embodiments of the IC 700 of FIG. 7 is provided, in which a bonding structure 505 having a bump structure 515 overlies the interconnect structure 303.

The access MOSFET 308 includes source/drain regions 302, a gate electrode 306, and a gate dielectric 304. The source/drain regions 302 are disposed between an isolation structure 502 that extends from an upper surface of the substrate 102 to a point below the upper surface of the substrate 102. In some embodiments, the isolation structure 502 is configured as a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure and comprises one or more dielectric materials (e.g., silicon dioxide). The access MOSFET 308 further includes a sidewall spacer structure 504 surrounding the gate electrode 306 and the gate dielectric 304. At least a portion of the sidewall spacer structure 504 overlies the source/drain regions 302.

The bonding structure 505 overlies the interconnect structure 303 and the access MOSFET 308. The bonding structure 505 includes a first passivation layer 510, a second passivation layer 512, a top dielectric structure 514, the bump structure 515, a redistribution layer 508, and first and second redistribution vias 506 a, 506 b. The redistribution layer 508 is disposed within the second passivation layer 512. The first and second redistribution vias 506 a-b are disposed within the first passivation layer 510 and extend from the redistribution layer 508 to the conductive wires 312. In some embodiments, the redistribution layer 508 is electrically coupled to the MIMIM capacitor 200 a. The bump structure 515 extends through the top dielectric structure 514 and contacts the redistribution layer 508. The bump structure 515 includes a bond pad 516, a bond bump 518, and a solder ball 520. The bump structure 515 is electrically coupled to the interconnect structure 303 by way of the redistribution layer 508. In some embodiments, the bump structure 515 is configured to electrically couple the IC 900 to another IC (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 10 , a cross-sectional view 1000 of some alternative embodiments of a portion of the IC 900 of FIG. 9 , as indicated by the dashed box in FIG. 9 is provided.

As illustrated in FIG. 10 , the MIMIM capacitor 200 a is disposed within the first passivation layer 510 and directly underlies the redistribution layer 508. The redistribution layer 508 includes a conductive body 508 a surrounded by a conductive liner 508 b. In some embodiments, the redistribution layer 508 has a protrusion that extends through the first passivation layer 510 to a conductive wire 312 in an ILD layer 314. In some embodiments, the conductive body 508 a may, for example, be or comprise aluminum, copper, an alloy of the aforementioned, or the like. In further embodiments, the conductive liner 508 b may, for example, be or comprise tungsten, or the like.

FIGS. 11-16 illustrate cross-sectional views 1100-1600 of some embodiments of a method of forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor having a diffusion barrier layer according to aspects of the present disclosure. Although the cross-sectional views 1100-1600 shown in FIGS. 11-16 are described with reference to a method, it will be appreciated that the structures shown in FIGS. 11-16 are not limited to the method but rather may stand alone separate of the method. Furthermore, although FIGS. 11-16 are described as a series of acts, it will be appreciated that these acts are not limiting in that the order of the acts can be altered in other embodiments, some acts that are illustrated and/or described may be omitted in whole or in part. In some embodiments, FIGS. 11-16 may, for example, be employed to form some embodiments of the MIM capacitor 100 b of FIG. 1B.

As shown in cross-sectional view 1100 of FIG. 11 , a bottom electrode 104 is formed over a substrate 102. In some embodiments, the bottom electrode 104 may, for example, be or comprise titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, or the like. A capacitor dielectric layer 106 is formed over the bottom electrode 104. A first deposition process is performed to form a first top electrode layer 110 a over the capacitor dielectric layer 106. In some embodiments, the first top electrode layer 110 a may be a first material (e.g., titanium nitride (TiN)) and/or may have a thickness t_(a) within a range of about 100 to 200 Angstroms. In some embodiments, the first deposition process includes performing a physical vapor deposition (PVD), such that the first top electrode layer 110 a has a plurality of grains 114 (as illustrated and described in FIG. 1B). Other deposition processes are, however, amenable. For example, in some embodiments, the first top electrode layer 110 a may be formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), or some other suitable deposition process. The grains 114 may, for example, be columnar grains with grain boundaries that extend from a top surface of the capacitor dielectric layer 106 to a point above the top surface of the capacitor dielectric layer 106. In some embodiments, the thickness t_(a) is a maximum thickness of the first top electrode layer 110 a. In some embodiments, the bottom electrode 104 and/or the capacitor dielectric layer 106 may be deposited by thermal oxidation, CVD, PVD, ALD, some other deposition process, or any combination of the foregoing.

As shown in cross-sectional view 1200 of FIG. 12 , a diffusion barrier layer 112 is formed over the first top electrode layer 110 a. In some embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer 112 may, for example, be or comprise the first material (e.g., TiN) and/or may have a thickness t_(db) within a range of about 10 to 15 Angstroms. In some embodiments, the thickness t_(db) is a maximum thickness of the diffusion barrier layer 112. In some embodiments, a process for forming the diffusion barrier layer 112 includes: 1) performing a second deposition process to deposit the diffusion barrier layer 112; and 2) performing an annealing process on the diffusion barrier layer 112. In some embodiments, the annealing process may increase from a minimum annealing temperature (e.g. about 250 degrees Celsius) to a maximum annealing temperature (e.g., about 400 degrees Celsius). In some embodiments, the second deposition process includes performing an ALD process, such that that the thickness t_(db) may be formed within the range of about 10 to 15 Angstroms. Other deposition processes are, however, amenable. In some embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer 112 and the first top electrode layer 110 a are deposited by different deposition processes. For example, in such embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer 112 is deposited by ALD and the first told electrode layer 110 a is deposited by PVD. In further embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer 112 may be formed by CVD, PVD, or some other suitable deposition process.

In some embodiments, while performing the annealing process, the structure of FIG. 12 is exposed to a treatment species (e.g., nitrogen (N₂), hydrogen (H₂), a combination of the foregoing, etc.), wherein the diffusion barrier layer 112 is rich in the treatment species (e.g., N-rich) after performing the annealing process. In some embodiments, during the annealing process the treatment species may be implanted and/or absorbed into the diffusion barrier layer 112, wherein the diffusion barrier layer 112 is rich in the treatment species (e.g., N-rich). In some embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer 112 comprises a ratio of titanium to nitrogen of about 1:1.02, 1:1.03, 1:1.04, or 1:1.05. For example, for every 100 titanium atoms, the diffusion barrier layer 112 may comprise 102 to 105 nitrogen atoms. Further, nitrogen atoms have a smaller atomic radius than titanium atoms, wherein a layer with a greater number of nitrogen atoms than titanium atoms will have a shorter distance between adjacent atoms (i.e., smaller grain sizes). Because the diffusion barrier layer 112 is N-rich (i.e., a greater number of nitrogen atoms than titanium atoms) a distance between atoms in the diffusion barrier layer 112 is less than a distance between atoms in the first top electrode layer 110 a. Therefore, the atoms in the diffusion barrier layer 112 are more densely packed together than the atoms in the first top electrode layer 110 a, leading to the diffusion barrier layer 112 having smaller grain sizes. In further embodiments, the atoms in the diffusion barrier layer 112 are so densely packed together that a diffusive species is unable to travel between adjacent atoms in the diffusion barrier layer 112.

In further embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer 112 may be N-rich in an upper region 112 a, where the upper region 112 a is defined from the dotted line in FIG. 12 to a top surface 112 ts of the diffusion barrier layer 112. In some embodiments, after performing the annealing process and exposing the diffusion barrier layer 112 to the treatment species, the diffusion barrier layer 112 has at least a partially crystalline structure that is different from that of the first top electrode layer 110 a. For example, the diffusion barrier layer 112 has a plurality of grains that are non-columnar and smaller than the grains 114 of the first top electrode layer 110 a. In some embodiments, the grains of the diffusion barrier layer 112 may be equiaxed as described and/or illustrated in FIG. 1B. In further embodiments, the annealing process with the treatment species facilitates the partially crystalline structure of the diffusion barrier layer 112, such that the diffusion barrier layer 112 has grains with grain sizes less than about 3 Angstroms. The partially crystalline structure, non-columnar grain sizes, and/or N-rich properties of the diffusion barrier layer 112 block and/or mitigate diffusion of a diffusive species through the diffusion barrier layer 112 during subsequent processing steps (e.g., the patterning, removal, and/or cleaning processes of FIGS. 15 and 16 ). This, in part, may be because the nitrogen atoms disposed in the diffusion barrier layer 112 during the annealing process reduce a distance between adjacent titanium and nitrogen atoms. Thus, the diffusive species is unable to travel between adjacent titanium and nitrogen atoms in the diffusion barrier layer 112. The diffusive species may, for example, be or comprise oxygen (O₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydrofluoric acid (HF), dihydrofolic acid (DHF), or a combination of the aforementioned.

As shown in cross-sectional view 1300 of FIG. 13 , a second top electrode layer 110 b is formed over the diffusion barrier layer 112. In some embodiments, the second top electrode layer 110 b is formed by a third deposition process (e.g., a PVD process), such that the second top electrode layer 110 b comprises the first material (e.g., TiN) and/or has a thickness t_(b) within a range of about 100 to 200 Angstroms. The second top electrode layer 110 b has a plurality of grains 116 that may, for example, be columnar grains (as illustrated and described in FIG. 1B). In some embodiments, the third deposition process is the same as the first deposition process (e.g., PVD process) and different from the second deposition process (e.g., ALD process). In further embodiments, the first, second, and third deposition processes each comprise a PVD process. Other deposition processes are, however, amenable for the first, second, and third deposition processes.

As shown in cross-sectional view 1400 of FIG. 14 , a masking layer 1402 is formed over the second top electrode layer 110 b. In some embodiments, the masking layer 1402 may, for example, be or comprise a photoresist, a hard mask, or the like.

As shown in cross-sectional view 1500 of FIG. 15 , a patterning process is performed on the first and second top electrode layers 110 a-b, the diffusion barrier layer 112, and the capacitor dielectric layer 106, thereby defining the top electrode 108 and the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor 100 a. The top electrode 108 includes the first and second top electrode layers 110 a-b and the diffusion barrier layer 112. The MIM capacitor 100 a includes the top electrode 108, the bottom electrode 104, and a capacitor dielectric layer 106. In some embodiments, the patterning process may include performing a wet etch on the first and second top electrode layers 110 a-b, the diffusion barrier layer 112, and the capacitor dielectric layer 106. The aforementioned layers may be exposed to one or more etchants according to the masking layer 1402. In some embodiments, the one or more etchants may, for example, be or comprise at least one of the diffusive species (e.g., hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)).

In further embodiments, after performing the patterning process, the capacitor dielectric layer 106 has a thickness ter defined in a center region 106 cr of the capacitor dielectric layer 106 and a thickness t_(pr) defined in a peripheral region 106 pr of the capacitor dielectric layer 106. The top electrode 108 overlies the center region 106 cr of the capacitor dielectric layer 106, such that the capacitor dielectric layer 106 has the thickness t_(cr) between a top surface of the bottom electrode 104 and a bottom surface of the first top electrode layer 110 a. The peripheral region 106 pr surrounds the center region 106 cr and is laterally offset from the top electrode 108. In some embodiments, the thickness t_(pr) is less than the thickness t_(cr). Thus, the capacitor dielectric layer 106 has two discrete thicknesses.

As shown in cross-sectional view 1600 of FIG. 16 , a removal process is performed on the structure of FIG. 15 to remove the masking layer (1402 of FIG. 15 ). In some embodiments, the removal process includes performing a wet etch and/or a dry etch, such as a wet ash and/or a dry ash. The removal process may, for example, include exposing the top electrode 108, masking layer (1402 of FIG. 15 ), and or the capacitor dielectric layer to at least one of the diffusive species.

In some embodiments, after performing the removal process, a cleaning process may be performed on the top electrode 108 and the capacitor dielectric layer 106 to, for example, remove by-products from the patterning process and/or the removal process. The cleaning process may include exposing the top electrode 108 and the capacitor dielectric layer 106 to at least one of the diffusive species (e.g., H₂O₂ and/or dihydrofolic acid (DHF)). The diffusion barrier layer 112 is configured to block diffusion of the diffusive species to the center region 106 cr of the capacitor dielectric layer 106 during and/or after the patterning, cleaning, and/or removal process(es), thereby preventing and/or mitigating a formation of voids in at least the center region 106 cr of the capacitor dielectric layer 106. This, in part, prevents the breakdown of the MIM capacitor 100 a at high operating volts, thereby increasing an operating voltage, an endurance, and a reliability of the MIM capacitor 100 a.

FIG. 17 illustrates a method 1700 of forming a MIM capacitor having a diffusion barrier layer according to the present disclosure. Although the method 1700 is illustrated and/or described as a series of acts or events, it will be appreciated that the method is not limited to the illustrated ordering or acts. Thus, in some embodiments, the acts may be carried out in different orders than illustrated, and/or may be carried out concurrently. Further, in some embodiments, the illustrated acts or events may be subdivided into multiple acts or events, which may be carried out at separate times or concurrently with other acts or sub-acts. In some embodiments, some illustrated acts or events may be omitted, and other un-illustrated acts or events may be included.

At act 1702, a bottom electrode is formed over a substrate, and a capacitor dielectric layer is formed over the bottom electrode. FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view 1100 corresponding to some embodiments of act 1702.

At act 1704, a first deposition process is performed to deposit a first top electrode layer over the capacitor dielectric layer. FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view 1100 corresponding to some embodiments of act 1704.

At act 1706, a second deposition process is performed to deposit a diffusion barrier layer over the first top electrode layer. In some embodiments, the first deposition process (e.g., a PVD process) is different from the second deposition process (e.g., an ALD process). FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view 1200 corresponding to some embodiments of act 1706.

At act 1708, an annealing process is performed on the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer is exposed to a treatment species (e.g., nitrogen (N₂), hydrogen (H₂), a combination of the foregoing, etc.) during the annealing process. FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view 1200 corresponding to some embodiments of act 1708.

At act 1710, a third deposition process is performed to deposit a second top electrode layer over the diffusion barrier layer. FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view 1300 corresponding to some embodiments of act 1710.

At act 1712, a masking layer is formed over the second top electrode layer. FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view 1400 corresponding to some embodiments of act 1712.

At act 1714, a patterning process is performed on the first and second top electrode layers, the diffusion barrier layer, and the capacitor dielectric layer, thereby defining a top electrode. FIG. 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view 1500 corresponding to some embodiments of act 1714.

At act 1716, a removal process is performed to remove the masking layer. FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-sectional view 1600 corresponding to some embodiments of act 1716.

At act 1718, a cleaning process is performed on the top electrode and the capacitor dielectric layer. FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-sectional view 1600 corresponding to some embodiments of act 1718.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a MIM capacitor that has a top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a capacitor dielectric layer disposed between the top and bottom electrodes. The top electrode has a first top electrode layer, a second top electrode layer, and a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first and second top electrode layers.

In some embodiments, the present application provides a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor, including a bottom electrode overlying a substrate; a capacitor dielectric layer overlying the bottom electrode; and a top electrode overlying the capacitor dielectric layer, wherein the top electrode includes a first top electrode layer, a second top electrode layer, and a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first and second top electrode layers.

In some embodiments, the present application provides an integrated chip, including an interconnect structure overlying a substrate, wherein the interconnect structure includes an alternating stack of conductive vias and wires; a bottom electrode overlying at least one of the conductive wires; a capacitor dielectric layer overlying the bottom electrode; a top electrode overlying the capacitor dielectric layer, wherein the top electrode includes a first top electrode layer; and a second top electrode layer overlying the first top electrode layer, wherein the first and second top electrode layers respectively have a first columnar grain and a second columnar grain, wherein the second columnar grain overlies the first columnar grain and has sidewalls laterally offset from sidewalls of the first columnar grain.

In some embodiments, the present application provides a method for forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor, the method includes forming a bottom electrode over a substrate; forming a capacitor dielectric layer over the bottom electrode; depositing a first top electrode layer over the capacitor dielectric layer; depositing a diffusion barrier layer over the first top electrode layer; performing an annealing process on the diffusion barrier layer, wherein after the annealing process the diffusion barrier layer is rich in a treatment species; and depositing a second top electrode layer over the diffusion barrier layer.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor, comprising: a bottom electrode overlying a substrate; a capacitor dielectric layer overlying the bottom electrode; and a top electrode overlying the capacitor dielectric layer, wherein the top electrode includes a first top electrode layer, a second top electrode layer, and a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first and second top electrode layers, wherein the first and second top electrode layers each comprise a first material in which a majority of grains are columnar grains, wherein the diffusion barrier layer comprises a second material in which a majority of grains are equiaxed grains, wherein the first top electrode layer comprises a plurality of first grain boundaries continuously extending from a bottom surface of the top electrode in a first direction towards a top surface of the top electrode, wherein the diffusion barrier layer comprises a plurality of second grain boundaries vertically stacked over one another and continuously extending in a second direction that is approximately perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the second grain boundaries directly overlie the first grain boundaries, wherein a height of a shortest columnar grain in the first top electrode layer is greater than a height of the equiaxed grains in the diffusion barrier layer, wherein the plurality of first grain boundaries are respectively straight, and wherein the second grain boundaries are respectively jagged and different from one another.
 2. The MIM capacitor of claim 1, wherein the first and second top electrode layers and the diffusion barrier layer each comprise a metal nitride.
 3. The MIM capacitor of claim 2, wherein the metal nitride of the diffusion barrier layer is nitrogen rich.
 4. The MIM capacitor of claim 1, wherein the first material and the second material comprise titanium nitride.
 5. The MIM capacitor of claim 1, wherein a lower grain boundary in the plurality of second grain boundaries contacts a sidewall of a first columnar grain in the first top electrode layer.
 6. The MIM capacitor of claim 1, wherein a maximum thickness of the diffusion barrier layer is at least 10 times less than a maximum thickness of the first top electrode layer.
 7. The MIM capacitor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second grain boundaries are arranged in parallel with one another and continuously extend from a first sidewall of the diffusion barrier layer to a second sidewall of the diffusion barrier layer.
 8. The MIM capacitor of claim 1, wherein the capacitor dielectric layer comprises a first zirconium oxide layer, a second zirconium oxide layer, and an aluminum oxide layer disposed between the first and second zirconium oxide layers.
 9. An integrated chip, comprising: an interconnect structure overlying a substrate, wherein the interconnect structure comprises an alternating stack of conductive vias and wires; a bottom electrode overlying at least one of the conductive wires; a capacitor dielectric layer overlying the bottom electrode; a top electrode overlying the capacitor dielectric layer, wherein the top electrode comprises: a first top electrode layer; a second top electrode layer overlying the first top electrode layer, wherein the first and second top electrode layers respectively have a first columnar grain and a second columnar grain, wherein the second columnar grain overlies the first columnar grain and has sidewalls laterally offset from sidewalls of the first columnar grain, wherein the second top electrode layer has a planar bottom surface and a top surface comprising a plurality of planar upper surfaces that are vertically offset from one another; and a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first and second top electrode layers; wherein the first and second top electrode layers comprise a metal nitride with a first ratio of nitrogen atoms to metal atoms, and wherein the diffusion barrier layer comprises the metal nitride with a second ratio of nitrogen atoms to metal atoms greater than the first ratio, and wherein the first ratio is 1:1.
 10. The integrated chip according to claim 9, wherein the second ratio is about 1.0x:1, where x is within a range of about 2 to
 5. 11. The integrated chip according to claim 9, further comprising: a middle electrode overlying the capacitor dielectric layer; and an upper capacitor dielectric layer disposed between the top electrode and the middle electrode.
 12. The integrated chip according to claim 11, wherein the middle electrode comprises a first middle electrode layer, a second middle electrode layer, and a middle electrode diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first and second middle electrode layers, and wherein the first and second middle electrode layers respectively comprise the metal nitride with the first ratio and the middle electrode diffusion barrier layer comprises the metal nitride with the second ratio.
 13. An integrated chip, comprising: a bottom electrode overlying a substrate; a capacitor dielectric layer overlying the bottom electrode; and a top electrode overlying the capacitor dielectric layer, wherein the top electrode comprises a first top electrode layer, a second top electrode layer, and a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first and second top electrode layers, wherein outer sidewalls of the first top electrode layer, outer sidewalls of the diffusion barrier layer, and outer sidewalls of the second top electrode layer are respectively aligned with one another, wherein the first and second top electrode layers respectively comprise a first material having first grain sizes and the diffusion barrier layer comprises a second material having second grain sizes that are smaller than the first grain sizes, wherein a majority of grains in the first material are columnar grains and a majority of grains in the second material are non-columnar grains, wherein the diffusion barrier layer comprises a plurality of rows of non-columnar grains vertically stacked on top of one another, wherein the plurality of rows of non-columnar grains continuously laterally extend between the outer sidewalls of the diffusion barrier layer, wherein a height of a smallest columnar grain in the first and second top electrode layers is greater than a height of the non-columnar grains, wherein the diffusion barrier layer comprises a lower grain boundary that contacts a sidewall of a first columnar grain in the first top electrode layer, and wherein the first top electrode layer comprises a plurality of first grain boundaries that are respectively straight, wherein the diffusion barrier layer comprises a plurality of second grain boundaries that are respectively jagged and different from one another.
 14. The integrated chip according to claim 13, wherein the capacitor dielectric layer comprises a first pair of opposing sidewalls disposed vertically above a second pair of opposing sidewalls, wherein a distance between the first pair of opposing sidewalls is less than a distance between the second pair of opposing sidewalls.
 15. The integrated chip according to claim 14, wherein the outer sidewalls of the diffusion barrier layer are aligned with the first pair of opposing sidewalls.
 16. The integrated chip according to claim 13, further comprising: a conductive via overlying the bottom electrode, wherein the conductive via is laterally offset from the outer sidewalls of the diffusion barrier layer by a non-zero distance, and wherein the conductive via extends through the capacitor dielectric layer to contact a top surface of the bottom electrode.
 17. The integrated chip according to claim 13, wherein the diffusion barrier layer has a partially crystalline structure.
 18. The integrated chip according to claim 13, wherein a top surface of the first top electrode layer is non-planar and comprises a plurality of recesses, wherein a bottom surface of the diffusion barrier layer is non-planar and comprises a plurality of protrusions that contact the plurality of recesses, wherein the diffusion barrier layer has a planar top surface.
 19. The integrated chip according to claim 13, wherein a thickness of the first top electrode layer is greater than a thickness of the capacitor dielectric layer.
 20. The integrated chip according to claim 13, wherein the second top electrode layer has a planar bottom surface and a top surface comprising a plurality of planar upper surfaces that are vertically offset from one another. 